LAC. Edward Picton
Royal Air Force 35 Squadron
from:Tottenham
The following was done for me by a researcher. Dad died in 1998.
The Royal Air Force Career of Ted Picton
Basic Training. Ted Picton joined the Royal Air Force at the age of nineteen as an Aircraftsman 2nd Class on the 9th of May 1940, in the second year of World War 2. He reported to the No 2 School of Recruits Training at RAF Cardington, in Bedfordshire, for initial training and assessment. RAF Cardington was originally an Airship base, then one of the main centres for barrage balloons. RAF Cardington had become the largest recruitment training camp in the country and struggled to cope with the numbers of new trainees arriving each week (more than 200,000 passed through the gates). Ted would have been part of a Flight of twenty-four trainees, and with fourteen Flights per intake there were over 2,000 arrivals every two months. Accommodation proved inadequate and four tented camps were erected on the site, although Ted might have been in one of the newly-built wooden huts, close to the old gasworks. An account of the time describes RAF Cardington as having a happy and homely atmosphere that permeated the whole place - a picture of neatness. Inside the huts the trainee's equipment was stacked neatly on beds in readiness for the regular inspections.
A typical basic training Flight at RAF Cardington, 1940. The first of the induction formalities was the Swearing In to become legally bound by the Air Force Act and allegiance to the Crown. This made one legally bound by the Air Force Act and each airman received a service number. Each Airman received an Identity Card RAF Form 1250 and Identity Discs, called Dog Tags, to be carried at all times. They were then issued with uniform and kit including items such as a shaving brush, button stick (for polishing brass buttons), cleaning brushes, knife, fork, spoon, mug, kit bag, and mess tin. The webbing belt and harness to support a haversack and gas mask, water bottle and bayonet all had to be scrubbed and painted with a grey paste called Blanco. The eight week basic training course, (reduced from twelve weeks) included learning military drill, daily physical training to improve fitness, and attending classroom lessons on the history of the Royal Air Force, the dangers of working with aircraft, as well as how to shoot a Lee-Enfield 303 rifle
After basic training Ted would have travelled by train to No. 9 School of Technical Training, Morecambe. As there was almost no accommodation at RAF Morecambe, the airmen were given accommodation in private houses known as billets, private houses where the occupants with space to spare were required by law to accommodate Service Personnel. Compulsory billeting is only authorised by Parliament in wartime. For some, this meant the relative luxury of a home from home. The Battle of Britain took place between July and October 1940, so Ted would have become used to regular air-raid drills and actual attacks by the Luftwaffe on RAF bases. The technical training at Morecambe took place in various commandeered large garages and factories. Tuition was by lectures and practical work amongst a collection of aircraft parts, workbenches in large classrooms. Ted had been a mechanic before joining the RAF so would have taken to the practical work. After training he became a qualified Flight Mechanic Engines (FME) and was promoted to Aircraftsman 1st Class. He would have then been allowed to return home to Walthamstow for Christmas 1940 in uniform, carrying his posting instructions for his new operational squadron.
Service with 35 Squadron. Aircraftsman Picton reported to 35 Squadron, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire, on the 31st of January 1941. The first Handley Page Halifax squadron, it had been reformed in November 1940. The Handley Page Halifax had four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines (see YouTube Video of one being ground run), so there was plenty of work for Ted and he would have been there to support 35 Squadrons first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of 10th/11th of March 1941.
Service with 24 Squadron. On the 11th of October 1941, Aircraftsman Picton transferred to No. 24 Squadron, based at RAF Uxbridge. Operating civilian aircraft which were impressed for wartime service, the squadron was used to evacuate British troops from France and operated courier flights to Gibraltar, as well as ambulance flights and VIP transports, including Sir Winston Churchill's personal aircraft.
Service at RAF Uxbridge. In January 1942 Ted reported for duty at RAF Uxbridge, where he would have been working on the Airspeed AS5 Courier, a fast, six-seat single-engine light aircraft, nine of which were pressed into war service.
Service with the Armed Forces Experimental Establishment (AFEE) On the 31st of October 1942 Ted was selected for special duties at the AFEE at Sherburn in Elvet, near Selby in North Yorkshire, working on the British glider development project. Among the gliders developed were the Airspeed Horsa (pictured), which could carry twenty-eight men, and the 7-ton capacity General Aircraft Hamilcar cargo glider. The Hamilcar could carry vehicles, anti-tank guns and light tanks into action. The General Aircraft Hotspur, originally planned as a compact assault glider carrying a small number of troops was also used for training the British Army pilots who formed the Glider Pilot Regiment.
On the last day of December, 1942, Ted was promoted to Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) having achieved a score of 80% in his examinations. On the 23rd of February 1943 he moved with the AFEE to RAF Hartford Bridge, and also worked at RAF Church Fenton near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. On the 19th of August 1943 Aircraftsman Ted Picton was awarded the Royal Air Force Good Conduct badge for completion of three years service. Worn on the jacket sleeve, further badges could be awarded. On the 28th of August 1944 Ted joined 77 Squadron at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire which along with RAF Melbourne and RAF Pocklington was known as No 42 Base. The squadron had a strength of approximately twenty aircraft. He worked as an engine fitter on the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber (pictured) which he had worked on with 35 Squadron. No 77 Squadron suffered heavy losses during its time at Elvington with over 500 aircrew killed, missing or taken prisoner and almost 80 Halifaxes lost as it played a major part in the Battle of the Ruhr and the bombing of Berlin.
Final service and Discharge. Ted's final posting was RAF Lyneham, where he arrived on the 21st of January 1946 to return to prestige VIP flight support. He was discharged to the RAF Reserve on the 25th of May 1946, and remained in the reserve forces until the 30th of June 1959.
